Crystal Cruises — New Zealand & Australia

This 15-day cruise on the Crystal Symphony begins in Auckland and sails the coast of New Zealand before crossing the Tasman Sea for Sydney and Melbourne. Take a helicopter tour of New Zealand’s only active volcano, visit the (adorable) fur seals in Wellington, journey to Middle-earth to visit filming locations from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and see Melbourne as you sip champagne aboard the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant, a restored 1927 streetcar. Best of all: You'll be among the first in the world to celebrate the arrival of 2017, parked beneath Sydney's Harbour Bridge with one of the world's biggest fireworks displays filling the night sky overhead.

Adventures by Disney — Danube River

For families traveling to Europe, Adventures by Disney offers a holiday version of its Danube River cruise. Spend Christmas day at Vienna’s Hofburg Palace for a performance by the Vienna Boys Choir, followed by a holiday lunch at Griechenbeisl, the oldest restaurant in the city. This weeklong cruise travels from Germany to Hungary, with Christmas markets at nearly every port for last-minute gifts and special souvenirs. Onboard activities include a mulled wine tasting, and Disney’s Adventure Guides lead younger travelers in decorating gingerbread houses and a gift exchange.

CroisiEurope — Andalusia, Spain

Spend the Christmas holiday exploring Spain’s Andalusia region, with guided excursions through Seville, Cadiz, Jerez, and Cordoba. Passengers aboard CroisiEurope’s La Belle de Cadix can attend midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in El Puerto de Santa Maria. Christmas Day is spent in Jerez, a city best known for its sherry, horses, and flamenco, before returning to the ship for a holiday gala.

It may not snow in Singapore over the holidays, but the air conditioning is plenty cold.

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Regent Seven Seas — Singapore to Sydney

Those who want to really get away should look into Regent Seven Seas’ 21-night sailing from Singapore to Sydney. Passengers have 13 days on land, including stops in Bali, Komodo, Cairns, and Brisbane, and up to 34 shore excursions—visits to royal temples in Bali, Komodo National Park (home to the namesake dragons), the Great Barrier Reef, and an off-road adventure in Brisbane. This year, onboard activities include an enrichment program with the Smithsonian in addition to special meals for Hanukkah, Christmas, and a New Year’s Eve gala.

Royal Caribbean — Caribbean

If your idea of a white Christmas is more white sand beach, less a mountain of snow, Royal Caribbean’s three- to 12-night Caribbean voyages may be what you’re looking for. Claiming the “biggest holiday celebration at sea,” 16 of Royal Caribbean’s ships will celebrate the holidays and the New Year with poolside carolers, tree and Menorah lighting ceremonies, and cookie decorating. Passengers sailing on New Year’s Eve will be shaking confetti out of their hair well into January, after enjoying live music, balloon drops, and a champagne toast.

AmaWaterways — Central Europe

Explore Central Europe by river from Budapest to Amsterdam on a 15-day cruise with AmaWaterways. Visit Christmas markets in Budapest, Vienna, and Regensburg, as well as more than 100 booths at the world’s largest Christmas market in Nuremberg. Walk the cobblestone streets of Passau to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to the largest cathedral organ (it has 17,774 pipes and 233 registers); visit Germany’s oldest wine cellar in Kitzingen for a tasting; and take a tour of the Residenz Palace and gardens in Würzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.